Delhi Air Quality ‘Very Poor’, CAQM Introduces II. of the GRAP stage across the NCR | Today’s news
NEW DELHI: Air quality in the national capital slipped to the ‘very poor’ category on Monday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to activate II. phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect. The city’s daily average air quality index (AQI) climbed to 324 on November 2, prompting further measures to control pollution.
The decision was taken by the CAQM sub-committee on GRAP after reviewing the prevailing air quality and forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
Delhi’s AQI rose sharply from 117 in the “moderate” category on October 31 to 261 in the “bad” category on November 1, before reaching 324 in the “very bad” category on Monday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) daily AQI bulletin.
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Delhi’s daily average AQI reached 324 on November 2, placing it in the “very poor” category. CAQM cited adverse weather conditions and forecasts indicating that air quality could remain very poor.
GRAP Phase II is applied when Delhi’s AQI is between 301 and 400, the “very poor” range. It complements the measures already in place in Phase I.
Authorities are to increase mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling, target pollution hotspots and intensify controls on construction and demolition. The plan also envisages higher parking charges and staggered office hours in select NCR cities.
Residents are advised to use public transport, limit the use of private vehicles and avoid dust-generating construction activities. They should also avoid open burning of waste or biomass and consider working from home where their jobs allow.
The quoted doctor advised people with respiratory problems to avoid going outside and use masks during periods of excessive pollution, especially early in the morning and at night. People with chronic conditions were also advised to take prescribed medication regularly and seek medical attention if their condition worsened.
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CAQM attributed the deterioration to adverse weather conditions and said forecasts indicated air quality was likely to remain in the “very poor” category for the coming days.
Delhi-NCR has been battling persistent air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating further from November to February. Delhi recorded the worst city-wide air quality in 2025 in November, when its daily average AQI was 354, placing it in the “very poor” category, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
More sweeping, dust control measures
Stage II of the GRAP will be applied when Delhi’s AQI is between 301 and 400. Under this framework, the NCR authorities have to implement additional pollution control measures in addition to those already in place in Stage I.
These include intensifying mechanical and vacuum sweeping of the road along with water sprinkling, preferably at night and in the early morning hours. Authorities have also been directed to deploy more sweepers and ensure that the dust collected is disposed of at designated locations.
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Before rush hour, roads will be sprinkled daily with water to suppress dust, especially along corridors with heavy traffic and places of traffic jams.
The CAQM has directed agencies to intensify targeted pollution control measures at identified hotspots across Delhi-NCR, focusing on the predominant sources of pollution in each area. Inspections at construction and demolition sites will also be stepped up to ensure compliance with dust standards.
Other measures include higher parking charges to discourage the use of private vehicles and a request from the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWAs) to provide security guards, sanitation workers, horticulture workers and other service workers with electric heaters. This step is to prevent open burning of biomass and municipal solid waste in winter.
Staggered office hours, crowded public transport
Action plan II. stages also envisages staggered working hours in government offices and municipal bodies in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
The Government of Delhi and the respective State Governments of NCR have been asked to implement the measures. Other NCR districts may also consider staggered timings, while the central government may decide on its own whether to stagger the working hours of its offices in the region.
CAQM called on residents to follow the Citizen’s Charter under both I. and II. stages of the GRAP to prevent further deterioration of air quality.
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Citizens were advised to use public transport, minimize the use of private vehicles, choose less congested routes and park vehicles properly. Vehicle owners have also been asked to replace air filters at recommended intervals.
Residents were urged to avoid dust-generating construction activities, especially between October and January, regularly clean kitchen chimney filters and refrain from outdoor cooking and heating that create smoke.
The commission also does not recommend that solid waste and biomass be piled up or burned in the open. Those whose jobs allow telecommuting were encouraged to work from home.
CAQM said it was monitoring the situation closely and would regularly monitor air quality in the coming days.
